The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1887-02-25

That evening Major Henderson re,
turned. Hardly had he knocked at
the door, when Mr.. Browne emerged
from the opposite cottage.
"What news, Sir?" asked the sym
pathetic Mr.. Browne.
1.-THE worst possible" replied the
Major, throwing himself into an easy
chair and covering his face with his
hands. "That poor girl yonder is a
begger, and l have but a hundred a
year left"
Maude looked from one to the other
in utter bewilderment, and then cross
ed over to her uncle, trying to COM
fort him and gain some explanation
at the same time.
81 feel this is no scene for a stranger
to witness" said Mr.. Browne. "Slr,
you have my deepest sympa; ny, and
| am sure that at the present moment
l can show it in nc better way than
by withdrawing"
Maude followed her lover to the
door. She was much distressed on
her uncle's account, bat did not fully
realize her own loss of fortune.
care you really better, dear Jack?'
she asked anxiously.
Eyes, thank you. Quite cured.
Goodbye" and he was gone.
That her lovers leave-taking was a
little abrupt did strike Maude; she
was, however, far too confused by
the turn affairs had taken to at
tach much Importance to the first
circumstance.
When she returned to her uncle he
seemed wonderfully better, and at
supper he talked quite cheerfully of
their future.
Maude passed another sleepless
night. She did not so much mind the
terrible loss she had sustained on her
own account; but she was bitterly
disappointed that she could not do
all she had promised for her dear
Jack. She determined, however, to
be the most loving and economical
wife possible. At all events her uncle
would not be able to accuse Jack OF
being mercenary now, and there was
much comfort in that reflection. Per-
hads after all they would be able to
have a proper wedding, only OF course
it would have to be a very quiet one.
How much nicer that would be than
running away and deceiving her uncle,
who had always been so kind to her.
When she came down to breakfast
the next morning she was lookingpale
and a little worm after her two sleep.
less nights. The Major, however,
seemed to have succeeded in throwing
off his grief in quite wonderful man.
ner, and was in almost his usual
spirits.
"Have you heard how Mr.. Browne
is this morning?" Maude ventured to
ask the landlady's daughter.
"Why, Miss, ne paid up for the week
and went off by the mail train last
night, declaring he was sure the place
didn't suit him"
Poor Maudel The blow did indeed
fall OIL her with crushing force.
"Dear me. rather sudden! We shall
miss the old gentleman-eh, Miss
Maude?" said the Major, as soon as
the uncle and niece were left together.
He laid a slight stress on the adjec-
tive, and there was a suspicion OF fun
in his eyes. 1t was, however, no laugh
ing matter to Maude; she, poor girl,
unable longer to act her part, burst
into an uncomfortable fit OF weeping.
poor child, poor childl" said the
Major, compassionately; tits a sharp
lesson for you to learn. But it is bet
ter to bear a little pain now than to
suffer for the remainder of your life,
as would most probably have been
your fate if / had not paid that sccun-
drel out in his W CON-
The threatened loss Of fortune was
all a fabrication, Major Henderson
having gone no nearer to London than
the top Dom in Honeysuckle Cottage.
The truth was, the Major had dis
covered what was going on when he
had come upon the lovers so unexpecS.
edly. He then devised the scheme
which he afterward carried out so
successfully, in order to test the sin
certify of Lieut.. Mapleson's attach
ment to Maude. Major Henderson
had, of course, been Obliged to
take the landlady into his confidence,
and she, fully entering into the
spirit OF the thing, had suggested the
Majors occupying the top room in
her cottage, whence he could watch
Mr.. Brownies movements. And so
Major Henderson had merely walked
to the station, portmanteau in hand,
and, returning, had entered Honey.
suckle Cottage by the back way.
Maude's grief and humiliation were SO
real when size heard these details that
her uncle, thinking she would not care
to remain WHEREVER story was known,
wisely suggested returning home the
following day.
I'VE can give a garden party OF
something of that kind in honor o.
your tw~enty-frst birthday. 1t will b.
q lew days after the event, but that